Smartphones today have become accessible to a large mass of users both in price and availability. While there are still areas where smartphone penetration is low – especially certain African and South American countries – smartphones can be found pretty much everywhere around the globe. As such, they are now available in an incredibly wide price range – some of them are pronouncedly cheap, others seem like gadgets that ordinary people can only dream about, and most of them are somewhere in between. Today, let us dedicate a few words to the smartphones released this year with the biggest price tag, and see what sets them apart from the crowd.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Samsung’s Note series was always one with little to no compromises when it comes to hardware. This year’s business class flagship handset released by the South Korean manufacturer is not an exception from this rule. Under its hood, we can find an Octa-core (2.35GHz Quad + 1.9GHz Quad), 64-bit, 10nm processor (the type depends on the country where the handset is purchased) paired with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage, while on its face sits a 6.3″ Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 2960 x 1440 pixel resolution and a 521 ppi pixel density. It comes with all the features one might expect from such a monster, including native 4K video recording at 30fps, crystal clear audio playback, direct TV connectivity (DisplayPort over USB type-C), and a hefty 3,300 mAh battery.

Google Pixel 2 XL

Google’s Pixel 2 XL was a highly anticipated phone – and it didn’t disappoint. Hardware-wise, it is similar to the other flagship handsets released this year, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, stereo speakers, an aluminum body, and a 3520 mAh battery. What makes it stand out is its fast charging capability, allowing it to run for up to 7 hours after just 15 minutes of charging, its QHD+ 2880 x 1440 pOLED screen, and its clean Android 8.0 Oreo install with no bloatware whatsoever attached.

Where it is available, the Pixel 2 XL sells for a starting price of $849.

Apple iPhone X

The iPhone X is a model that breaks out of the mold Apple used for all of its previous devices. For one, it has a Super Retina OLED display (all previous models, as well as this year’s iPhones, had LCD screens) with a high resolution and a small dent on the top housing its TrueDepth frontal camera. Besides, it comes with a dual rear camera capable of recording 4K video at up to 60 fps, a brand new facial recognition feature, stereo speakers, and Apple’s brand new A11 Bionic system-on-a-chip that makes it more responsive and high-performance than any model before it.

Depending on the storage capacity, the Apple iPhone X sells for $999 or $1,149.